Buddha Temple facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Buddha Temple
South aspect
Highest point
Elevation	7,212 ft (2,198 m)
Prominence	766 ft (233 m)
Isolation	1.46 mi (2.35 km)
Parent peak	The Colonnade (7,602 ft)
Geography
Buddha Temple Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Buddha Temple Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Grand Canyon National Park Coconino County, Arizona, US
Parent range	Kaibab Plateau Colorado Plateau
Topo map	USGS Bright Angel Point
Type of rock	limestone, sandstone, mudstone
Climbing
First ascent	1973
Easiest route	class 5.4 climbing

Buddha Temple is a tall peak, 7,212 feet (2,198 meters) high, located in the amazing Grand Canyon. You can find it in Coconino County, in northern Arizona, USA.

This mountain is about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north of Mather Point, a popular spot on the Grand Canyon's South Rim. It's also four miles southwest of Bright Angel Point on the North Rim. Buddha Temple stands out because it rises very high above the surrounding canyons. It climbs over 3,800 feet (1,160 meters) in just two miles above Bright Angel Canyon to the east. To the west, it rises 3,000 feet in less than a mile above Haunted Canyon.

Buddha Temple has several interesting neighbors. These include Manu Temple to the northeast, Isis Temple to the southwest, Zoroaster Temple to the southeast, and Deva Temple to the east.

How Buddha Temple Got Its Name

Buddha Temple was named by Henry Gannett. He was a geographer working with Clarence Dutton. Dutton liked to name features in the Grand Canyon after gods and goddesses from different myths. So, following this idea, Gannett named this peak after Buddha.

The name "Buddha Temple" was officially accepted in 1906 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. This board is in charge of naming places in the USA.

First Climbers to Reach the Top

The very first time someone successfully climbed to the top of Buddha Temple was in 1973. The climbers were Bruce Grubbs, Chauncey Parker, and Mark Brown. They used a route called the Northwest Arete.

The Rocks and Layers of Buddha Temple

The top part of Buddha Temple is made of a hard rock called Kaibab Limestone. This limestone forms a protective "caprock" over the layers below.

Right under the limestone is a cream-colored rock called Coconino Sandstone. This sandstone forms steep cliffs. It was made about 265 million years ago from ancient sand dunes.

Below the Coconino Sandstone, you'll find other rock layers:

• The Permian Hermit Formation, which forms slopes.
• The Pennsylvanian-Permian Supai Group.
• The Mississippian Redwall Limestone.
• The Cambrian Tonto Group.
• And finally, the very old Proterozoic Unkar Group down by the creek level.

Rainwater that falls on Buddha Temple flows south into the Colorado River. It travels through Bright Angel Creek on the east side and Phantom Creek on the west side.

Climate Around Buddha Temple

Buddha Temple is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone. This means it's generally dry, but not a true desert. It can get cold, especially in winter.

Gallery

Images for kids

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  Buddha Temple detail